Axle for vehicles



Jan. 26 1926.` 1,570,941

J. G. CARROLL AXLE FOR VEHI CLES Jan. 26 1926. 1,570,941

J. G. CARROLL AXLE' FOR VEHI CLES 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 26 1926. J. G. CARROLL AXLE FOR vEHIcLEs Jan. 26 1926. 1,570,941

. J. G. CARROLL AXLE FOR VEHICLES Filed June l2, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 vNw Jaim (iCamI/l @wwwa/MW Jan. 26 1926. 1,576,941

J. G. CARROLL AXLE FOR VEHICLE S Filed June l2, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Jan. Z6,

UNl'lEl JOI-IN G. CARRLL, OF CELCAGO, XLLNIS, ASSIGNOR TO YVALKER VEHICLE COMPANY, OF CHCAGO, LLllilS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOS.

AELE FOR VEHICLES.

Application filed June 12, 1923.

To all whom t may concern.'

YBe it known that I, Jol-IN Gr. Camicia., a. citizen of the United States, residing` at Chicago, in the county of Cool; and State of lllinois, have invented a certain ,new and useful lmprovement in Axles for `ehicles,of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying` draiif'ings, forming a part of this specilication.

My invention relates to axles, particularly for electric vehicles.

lllhile l shall describe my invention in connection with the Valler drive, it is to be understood that the invention may b employed with other forms or types of drive or gear reduction.

It is desirable to use a minimum of unsprung weight in a vehicle and yet the axles must be rigid and amply strong. The rear axle is generally subject to the great stress, both because of the driving effort and berau'se the major part of the load is carried over the same. lVhere the driving mot-or er iiotors are carried upon the rear axle, is desirable that the same be housed against entry of dirt, moisture and other foreign matter.

`lleretofore, it has been customary to provrde a hollow rear axle housing, preferably f of cast steel or cast iron, in which hollow housing the motor is mounted. This construction, l find, is not adapted to give either maximum strength or accessibility. Furthermore, l have discovered that the disposition a metal in a relatively thin cylindrical shell makes it peculiarly liable to 'fracture bv punctnring. That is to say, a 'inst the side wall of the hollow housing et any point is p culi ly liable to rupture the walls of the housing and thus start a fault which will quickly develop into complete breakage.

According to mv invention l provide an axle construction in which the metal of the axle is disposed so as' to give greater strength and perfornrthe function of housing the motor by a supplemental shell. ln addition to a better disposition of the actual metal of the axle itself, I place the frame of the motor or motors in suchc a position that such frame actually becomes a strengthening element or strut in the axle itself, and instead of being a mere dead load. adds greatly to the strength of the axle.

Serial No. 644,904.

VThere are certain other and incidental advantages and objects which will be apparent from the following detailed description. In order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of constructing and operating' my invention, I shall now describe the same in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a rear axle embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a modified form of axle, the housing being removed to reveal the location of the motor and differential;

Fig. 5 is a. transverse vertical section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. .6 is a similar cross sectional view tal-*en on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a similar transverse section taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 4 to show the location of the bearing and pedestal therefor;

Fig. 8 is an end view and Fig. 9 a side elevational view of a further modified form of rear axle embodying the invention.

Referring now to the embodiment of Figs. l, 2 and 3, the axle of my invention comprises the open frame portion l which some what remotely resembles the usual banjo frame of automobile construction, and stub end portions 2 and 3 which are adapted to support the springs of the vehicle upon cor- `esponding spring pads 4 and 5, and are adapted further to receive the sleeves or stub axle sections 6 and 7 upon which the wheels, such as 8, are mounted. I have shown only the right hand wheel and connected parts. It will be understood that a' similar or other form of wheel may be mounted upon the left end of the axle. The hollow ends 2 and 3 of the axle are bored out to fit the stubs or sleeves 7 and are slotted or split at the ends down to the open frame portion and provided with pairs of depending clamping lugs or ears 9 and l0, more clearly shown in Fig. 2. These lugs 9 and l0 are drilled to receive the bolts l1, which passes freely through them. The bolt 1l is threaded for the major portion of its length and bears upon its one end the inte gral head 12, and upon the other end the nut 13 by which means the two lugs or ears 9 and 10 may be drawn towards each other to shrink the split stubs 2 and 3 upon the corresponding axle stubs 6 and 7.

In order to facilitate the insertion of the axle stubs, such as 7 and 8, into the housing stubs 2 and 3, I provide a pair of threaded nuts 14 and 15 upon the bolt 11. By threading these nuts 14 and 15 apart on the bolt 11, they operate as an expander or strut between the ears or lugs 9 and 10 and expand the housing stub or sleeve 3, or 2, as the case may be, to facilitate the insertion of the corresponding axle stub or the removal of the same. To assist in the insertion or removal of a stub axle, such as 6 or 7, I have provided in addition the threaded collar 16 which lies in the rear end of the bore of the axle stub 2 or 3, and has internal or feinale threads engaging the external or male threads formed on the rear or inner end of the corresponding axle stub 7. The collar 16 has a flange 17 which lies under the annular plate or ring 18, this plate or ring being held upon the inner end surface of the fran'ie 1 by means of cap screws and spring washers 19. The exposed end 2O of the nut 16 is formed with suitable faces for the engagement of a wrench or other suitable tool to turn the nut for either' drawing the axle stub 7 into place or for forcing the sanie out of the housing stub 3.

The axle stub 7 at its outer end bears a double yoke ineniber 21 having two pairs of arins 22 and 23, carrying idler shafts 24 and 25, respectively. Upon these shafts are mounted the idlers 26 and 27 meshing at their outer sides with the annular ring gear 28, and at their inner and adjacent sides with the driving pinion 29. The pinion 29 is secured by a key and by a taper fitting upon the outer end of the driving spindle 30. The yoke member 21 has annular shoulders providing seats 31 and 32 forthe inner races 33 and 34 of the inner and outer bearings 35 and 36. The bearing race 31 is held between the end of the housing stub 3, and the inner edge of the shoulder on the yoke ineinber 21. The drawing up of the nut 1G to pull the axle stub 7 into place, brings the outer end of the housing stub 3 against the inner edge of the inner bearing race 33 and holds it lirnily against the enlarged portion of the yoke 21.

The outer race ofthe corresponding earing 3.3 is seated in an annular seat in a nietal ring 57 to which is attached the inner disk 38 of the wheel 8.

he inner bearing race 34 of the outer bearing 36 is clamped between the large portion of the yoke 21, and a threaded claniping ring 89 which is centered Aupon the outer end of the yoke member. The outer bearing race of this bearing 36 is inounted in a flanged metal ring 40, which is siinilar to the inner ring 37. To this outer ring 40 the collar 64 which ina' outer wheel disk 4l is similarly attached. These disks 38 and 41 are preferably riveted to the flanges of the corresponding rings` be- `tween such flanges and loo, e riveting rings 42 and upon the interior of the disks. At their outer peripherics the disks 38 and 41 are flanged, as indicated at 44 and 45 to lie against the inner periphery of the riin 46. rlhis i'iin 4' has a ring 47, upon which the saine is shrunk, the ring 47 being sepa rate troni the ring gear 26, but the two parts being` keyed together held in asseinbly by the clamping bolts 48. The bolts 48 at the saine tiine clainp the outer portions of the disks 3S and 41 against the ring gear 26 and the ring or felly 47 holding the ring gear, the felly and the rini and the disks in place and in adding thein lirinly and mechanically. T he ring gear is provided with annular grooves 49 in which packing material is placed so that a secure joint between the disks 38, 41 and the ring gear 2S is secured, so that grease or other lubricant inay be kept in the wheel for lubricating the gears. A suit-able cap 50 closes the outer ring` 40, this cap being secured to the ring by bolts 5l. Displacement of the driving spindle 30 is prevented by ineans of the spring 52 which snaps into i groove in the outer end of the yoke nicinber 2l. rlhe iiiner disk 8S has a brake druni 53 attached thereto, this brake diuin cooperating with the usual brakes for stopping or holding` the car. A pressed inetal rino 54 lies in the space between the flange 5o and the exen sion ef the inner ring or hub portion 37 to keep foreign niateiial out of the inner bearing The Spindle 80 extends through a sleeve or quill 55, which sleeve or quill is the shaft of the inotor 56 upon which the armature 57 is inounted. This sleeve or quill is suitably supported in anti-friction bearings 5S and 59, supported in the end plates 60 and 61 of the nieto-r fraine 62. The bearings 58 and 59 are mounted as follows: The outer race of the bearing 5S is inounterl in a hollow hub, side of which is integral with the web of th" end plate 60, and

the other end of which is forined of a ring 62 threaded into the open end of the hub and race between said ring 62 The inliolding the cuter and the opposite inte al part 65?. ner race of the bea on the quill or sleeve e driving flange 65, whic.l driving flange is Connected to the differential 66. The hub of the drivingflange is keved to the .futili or p t l i ,l sleeve 55 by suitable splines and heid in place by tlie nut threaded ring 6i'.

The races of the bearing are held in a siinilar inanner. The outer race is held between the integral portion 68 of the hub on .1.411.011.1111.. 11rd ne eno platu e ane trie innei enc. o ie i' 'ig o9 vwhich is lhiead- `ino hotioin surfaces cooperating wilh flat o o1 l l l hub. The inheten and top surfaces on the ineiioi' o? ner I'aee is lelf between a pai oi' collars ne open 'frame 8l, these parts being gained on the Quill or sleeve 55t the oiner one of? into each nher? as nnlieated at 95% and he- 5 these collars 70 'being' threaded upon the 'ne' clan'iped togetheibysuitahle bolts oi' Cap 70 end olf folie qiill oi: sleeve screws lOO. Suitable 1pressed seel oi other which ias-se" sheet nieal housings 101, like the housings s i v 1 The diiiving' spindle o( Q through ighe quill oi. laiined against the sides of ihe axle Y i siiilined oi (having 1 neinoei lo Vo'l'in an enclosure foe the molo".

jacent hei/'el i' The brushes ifm' the n'iotoi indicated :it 102 75 he driving1 si in 7l. for ih Wheel zt ih@ are mounted upon z `hiessh holder 10-.Yliieh Opp/)site and the axle l'ned in inin is seeuied by ineans of a plate 104 inio iis adjacent bevel ge: e to the ield iii'aine SQ, hut sniiiah insulated tial Si?. VEhe end plates G0 up lign aguns the ends )e "ieallj,Y desel'ihed, his axle is like the 30 as h3 Leans of sini'fhle .Y Y pim Aons embodiment. sinds j"ne ineifioi' since l the open n F1os. 8 and 9 l have illustrated a ie foi eacl spindle ins-,lead of 0 open .V. einployinf a single motor and diir'feiential. l5 The i lc. -i' ne mei-imei' L05 is o a o ti inom stien which inotos have Coz- (w J y, l

nat the;T may he el: l by ineans of the h oi: vox 1 o. n ,iran/ie nach inoi'C-i has an ai'niai. is piefeifahlji formed Win iel'nal rio in snita le heain in or Lo' 7: a lop and hol-ioni so stengthen if motor) and the@ wim he l lso at Jdie stoih ends of ghe axle housing and o, additional laeial ribsj flanges lll am U2 to eoopeifmi such as indif' 78 join the endg` oi l'anges lll an 115, which in L sprinff seal with l'he open ifiai le pol-lion in ,)ly a@ ined t@ yoive, d o1 r to add si'engfl'h at he jnnc'ni'e. l

lefei'iin non' to Lhe in li'licatim in Figs. l, 6 tha the heaiinjgjs may he nonnced OCD which may onsi'ueted in il A einhodiinenii. Siinilaigy, thm; are l sheet nieal housings oi' covers l() Ising; ille open sides of die open lo bei* 8l 1 105. m5 ol' th l ino ne indesstood hat the axle may he and 84 ina east metal oi' may he made of neetion i metal, as desired. ln 'he c-"fihodiniaTY he mi 3 of Figs. 11; rs' and 8 oo l. -fi

l5 and Spi x ecizil Webs l0 join he hooni No Aih the bottoni y a mounted the open :li-aine S Q0 ae clamped of the nedesals 93 seened v Y, o dual pufpose o` v' the N Jing lubricant ii said fac s. v L aine quill oi' Y, 13 Q11" s one to the l); locating said f i' iranie. 'n d'i e L. l C aid is tend lo Claim bioadly the f dilelentlal gear 96 Connected in and pushing' out the Y1 lh axle, ai so driving spindles 9T and 98 foi diivthe means of spieadng or shrinli; c ie sinh end of *alle housing to permit more leadiY il nseition o1 to Clamp the stub axle.

frame 82 of the lnoor has dat top l-.Vbile l have described the invention in connection with the use of an electric motor between the top chord and the bott n chord of the open iframe, it will be understood that the invention is not necessarily coniined to the use of an electric motor in this position, as any other driving means which has a suitable shell or frame work, and which may be clamped between and to said top and bottom chords may be employed instead.

l. ln combination, an aille having an open frame portion, and an enrL portion, a driving spindle extending through said end portion, av wheel on said end portion actuated by said driving spindle, and a motor having a field frame mounted in said frame and serving as a mechanical connection between the sides of the frame.

2. In an axle, the combination ot' a Ytrame member having a top chore and a bottom chord united at their ends to each other and to housing stubs, wheels mounted on said stubs, spindles passing through .said stubs and connected to said wheels, and driving means for said spindles mounted between and clamped to said chords to Yiorm a. mechanical connection between them.

3. In combination, a rear axle traine comprising a central trame member including a. top chord and a bottom chord, end portions joining said chords and Jorming hollow sleeves adapted to provide pockets tor actual stubs, clamping means tor said hollow sleeves, the opposed surfaces et said chords comprising tlat parallel faces.

4i. A rear `nie frame comprising a central open trame member and tubular end portions, the inner surfaces ot said open frame member being linished, and a driving member having a housing or shell clamped against and between said opposed surfaces.

5. A rear ai; e comprising an open traine having a top chord and a bottom chord, said chords having opposed clamping faces, integral end portions having sockets tor receiving f e stubs. clamping means tor shrinking tid sockets upon the axle stubs, spring seats on said end portions and laterally e-itendin; langes tor strengthening s 'd end portions against tore-and-ait't stresses.

(i. i .rear axle comprising an open traine ha .ng a top choro and a bottom chord, said chords hai/1 opposed clamping Yfaces, inta al end poi ions havi; c sockets 'for receiving axle stubs, clamping means tor shrinking said stubs upon the axle sockets, spring seats on said end portions and late"- ally extending flanges for strengthening said end portions against 'loie-and-a'lt stresses.

7. A rear axle lconnarising an open frame having a top chord and a bottom chord, said chords having opposed clamping faces, integral end portions having sockets ior receiving axle stubs, clamping means for .shrinking said stubs upon the axle sockets, spring seats on said end portions and laterally extending flanges for strengthening said end portions against tore-and-att stresses, and screw threaded means carried by the axle for forcing an axle stub into or out of said socket.

8. In a device ot the class des ribed, a central open trame member having a tubular extension, said tubular extension being slotted, flanges along the edges ot the slot, a bolt passing transversely through the flanges, a nut tor the bolt lying outside of one of the flanges, and a pair ot nuts for the bolt lying between said flanges.

9. In a device oit the class described, a central open trame member having a top chord and a bottom chord, said chords having opposed clamping faces, tubular extensions to which said chords are connected, live spindles passing through said extensions, and driving means having a substantially cylindrical shell clamped between said opposed faces ot the chords.

10. In combination, an open trame member comprising a top chord, a bottom chord and tubular members, and a pair ot' electric motors having field trames, said trames being clamped between and to said 'chord members and having driving shafts extending through said tubular extensions.

l1. In combination, a rear axle Ytrame comprising a central frame member including a top and a bottom chord, end portions forming hollow sleeves joining said chords a motor adapted tor mounting on said trame member and relatively sen'ii-circular sheet metal covers fastened to each side ot Said ychords to form housing for said motor.

l2. In combination, a rear axle trame comprising a top and bottom chord united at their ends to each other, a motor having a field trame mounted between said top and bottom chords, and relativeliy semi-circular covers fastened to cach side opl" said chords to form a housing.

In witness whereof', l hereunto subscribe my name this eighth dav ot Juno, l

l u..r). JOHN G. CARROLL itl() 

